Songs that should have "made it there" as pop songs
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Music General
Liburnius — 9 years ago(January 06, 2017 08:33 PM)
What are some songs that you wish would have "made it there" on the charts, as part of popular music of the period, being played with enough frequency on the radio as the rest of them? Whether you think it could have been absolutely successful, had it reached its potential, or not, is something to think about. Some of these could have been minor hits, if promoted well-enough or released at the right time and place.
One choice I have had in mind for a while is the song "Young Love" by John Foxx, who made the critically well-received yet rather underground 1980 electronic album
Metamatic
. This 1980 album was re-released with a new CD version in 2007 (and again, more recently, included as part of a multiple-discs collection of Foxx's 1980s albums), featuring "Young Love" for the first time. Meant to be released in late 1979, the song was originally supposed to have a music video and be Foxx's first single record as a solo artist just starting out at the time, after leaving the band Ultravox, in which he was the lead vocalist. The song did not make it onto the
Metamatic
album, but I am under the impression that if his great 1980 #18 chart hit "Underpass" is an indication, "Young Love" may have related more effectively with mainstream listeners' tastes, in a similar vein to Blondie's romantically optimistic 1980 song "Call Me," although I wouldn't place the level of success that far, as Blondie was already well known by that point. Sometimes, you have unexpected hits, though, regardless of the performer or album its featured on (or in this case, meant to be featured on, until it was since 2007).
To me, "Young Love" seems to feature carefree lyrics evocative of fun trips to a club, out on a date. It has an adventurous feel to it, with its compelling driving melody, reminding me of an organ, and the last quarter of the song with the instrumental part is a great way to finish it. My favorite synthesizer, an ARP Odyssey, was used for the song, which the company Korg also recently put back into-production since 2015 (It is even a mobile app, since October 31st). I could have done without the electronic clapping sound in the background, but it still works and provides enthusiasm. It does not strike me as being nearly as serious as his other
Metamatic
era work, for the most part, but in the same vein, "Like a Miracle" (both the 1980 and 1983 versions) strikes me as another good choice for being represented on the radio as pop music of the time. Both songs are atypically upbeat and cheery for
Metamatic
, and probably closer in tone to Ultravox's
Systems of Romance
album, and Foxx's
The Garden
album. John Foxx did not quite go back to the darker, cold and dystopian sensations of
Metamatic
until his comeback into music in the late 1990s, and he's been very active since then, doing a new album or two every year, it seems. I probably own most of his output by now, but he has a lot of newer material and frequent collaborations, including one with Gary Numan last year.
Here is "Young Love." You may or may not like it, but it's among my favorites:
Strangely, as for the music charts today, if a young artist did the song now, even with the same delivery as Foxx, I think it might work. The music industry is in an electronic mood, for the most part, although it's mostly EBM/EDM club music, and most of
Metamatic
would likely strike most listeners as too introverted and creepy sounding to be considered for pop. Rock songs also seem to be very underrepresented in mainstream pop charts, nowadays. I think currently, there's no authentic rock genre song on there, but I could be mistaken.
This is "Sussudio," a great, great song: -
Liburnius — 9 years ago(January 06, 2017 10:01 PM)
That was nice, thanks for sharing "That Girl." I haven't heard of the artist Esthero, before, but it is a relaxing song with an interesting music video. What could you tell me about how it actually performed in 1998? Did the song reach the charts, or if it did, not high enough?
This is "Sussudio," a great, great song: -
rmcrae_deluxe — 9 years ago(January 07, 2017 04:45 PM)
"That was nice, thanks for sharing "That Girl." I haven't heard of the artist Esthero, before, but it is a relaxing song with an interesting music video. What could you tell me about how it actually performed in 1998? Did the song reach the charts, or if it did, not high enough?"
You're very welcome.
Unfortunately her label Sony decided against releasing it as a 2nd single because the album (Breath From Another) sold poorly, but the video did get some airplay on Canadian TV. I first heard it during a scene in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, but didn't come across Esthero and her work until a few years ago. Had Sony released That Girl as an official single I really believe it could've put Esthero on the map. But alas. You should definitely check out her stuff. Her other two records are Wikked Lil' Grrrls and Everything is Expensive.
Don't
eva
let nobody tell you you ain't
strong enough -
NJtoTX — 9 years ago(January 06, 2017 09:55 PM)
Teacher Teacher - Rockpile
http://timeisaflatcircus.tumblr.com/ -
NJtoTX — 9 years ago(January 06, 2017 10:15 PM)
Got to 51 on the U.S. charts, 31 in Canada.
http://timeisaflatcircus.tumblr.com/ -
Thor-Delta — 9 years ago(January 06, 2017 11:05 PM)
How about a non-hit by a huge artist?
"The Day Before You Came" by ABBA comes to mind:
This 1982 track did chart in the top 10 in some countries, but in bombed in the UK, US and Australia (ABBA, though Swedish, considered the UK to be the most important market for pop music)
Not exactly a huge artist, but not unknown either, how about "Silver Moon" by Michael Nesmith?:
New Du Mont high-resolution picture tube and high picture power give a fuller tone range -
Liburnius — 9 years ago(January 06, 2017 11:30 PM)
For the Abba song, I like the sounds and the mood provided (One of the YouTube comments indicates the sound is similar to Kraftwerk's
The Man-Machine
in places, and I can definitely hear that connection somewhat, sort of like "Space Lab" sequences), yet I have never heard that one before. I'm from America, and usually some of our stations will just play their '70s hits, it seems, and I imagine it did not have as much exposure here as it did even in Britain, where it charted to #32. The various European ratings seem quite divided, as well, doing well in Sweden, Norway, Germany, Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, and Canada, among others, yet missing the mark with the U.K. for some reason. I don't see America on the Wikipedia page, regarding music critics perception of it from there.
The "Silver Moon" song is nice, fusing rock and country elements. It did well on the Adult Contemporary charts, reaching #7, but was also in the upper end of middle-of-the-road in the Top 100 in America. I could see how it may have performed better, under more beneficial circumstances.
This is "Sussudio," a great, great song: -
Thor-Delta — 9 years ago(January 07, 2017 12:02 AM)
Not the best sound quality, but two 1960s songs by Australian singer Marty Rhone:
"Village Tapestry"
It did reach #12 in Queensland, but did not chart in any other state in the country (meaning Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, and TasmaniaI don't know about Canberra and Northern Territory, I can't get chart info from there, but relatively few people live in either state anyway)
"Ruby with the Red Hair"
Reached #20 in Queensland, #37 in Victoria, did not chart elsewhere.
Rhone released a whole string of flop singles in the 1960s, before having hits in the mid-1970s with two songs about jeans.
New Du Mont high-resolution picture tube and high picture power give a fuller tone range